LIMPOPO – The Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Limpopo has welcomed the sentencing of a Zimbabwean national, Godknows Mangani Demanyundo (54) in a cross-border illicit cigarettes case. The accused was convicted and sentenced today by the Giyani Magistrate’s Court for transporting illicit cigarettes worth more than R10.4 million through the Musina–Beitbridge Port of Entry.

Colonel Avele Fumba, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the court sentenced the accused to a fine of R10 million or five years’ direct imprisonment. He said the outcome was the result of the collaborative investigative efforts of multidisciplinary state agencies. They include the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the SAPS, the Border Management Authority (BMA), the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) and the Hawks.

Fumba said Demanyundo’s conviction and sentencing stemmed from his arrest on 10 June last year following the discovery of illicit Chelsea cigarettes during operations at the border linking South Africa and Zimbabwe. “Following the suspect’s arrest, the Hawks spearheaded the investigation, gathering and examining evidence to build a case that ultimately resulted in the accused’s conviction and sentencing. The illicit cigarettes, together with the truck and tanker trailer used in transporting the consignment, were forfeited to the state. Furthermore, the accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm,” he said.
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Fumba said the smuggler’s arrest followed the discovery of the consignment of illicit cigarettes concealed inside a tanker truck that Demanyundo was driving. He said authorities discovered the consignment during compulsory routine cargo scanning at the bridge.

“A SARS cargo analyst detected suspicious images during routine scanner analysis and alerted the team leader, who notified SAPS. A joint physical inspection by SAPS and BMA officials uncovered 500 master boxes, seven cartons and six packets of Chelsea cigarettes valued at more than R10.4 million,” said Fumba. He said after LCRC members documented the exhibits for evidential purposes, police arrested Demanyundo and the Hawks conducted a full-scale investigation into the illicit trade leading to conviction and sentencing.

The Limpopo Provincial Head of the Hawks, Major General Adv Gobz Govender, has commended the investigation team and the participating agencies for their contribution to the successful outcome.
“No border will shield those who profit from crime,” said Govender.